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Provo • When former BYU offensive linemen Robert Anae and Garett Tujague took over the Cougars'offensive line in January of 2013 — Anae in his second stint as the offensive coordinator and Tujague as the new line coach — they weren't exactly happy with what they inherited.
Gone was a lot of the toughness, grit, determination and nastiness that demanding coach Roger French instilled among his offensive linemen, including Anae and Tujague, when he oversaw it at BYU from 1980-2000.
Entering their third season, the current BYU coaches believe they have turned the corner. They visited French at his Apple Valley, Minn., home for three days last summer and have consulted with their mentor dozens of times before and after that trip.
French, 83, isn't totally retired; he still helps coach the offensive line and sophomore team at nearby Minnetonka High. But his name is uttered quite frequently in Provo these days.
This group has the potential to be BYU's best offensive line in the past five years — maybe longer, Tujague believes.
Only time will tell, Tujague stressed last week, but he likes what he sees.
"The biggest difference with the group of guys I have right now is the mental focus," Tujague said. "Their understanding of the offense is better than ever. These guys have completely separated themselves from the last two years, and that comes back to leadership and accountability. So that has been awesome."
Anae is a little more guarded with his praise, but his training camp critiques have been mostly positive.
"Some of our young linemen are really coming on," Anae said Monday.
Tujague said in July of 2014, he and Anae spent dozens of hours digging through French's garage in Minnesota and watching old tapes of offensive plays, blocking instruction, techniques and the like. There were binders containing game plans and notes that remain applicable today.
"The players are better with their schemes and better with their strength and conditioning," Anae said. "And they look better, because they bought into the nutrition [side] as well. Really excited about how we have grown as a program. It is a 180-degree mindset from a year ago."
Tujague said they realized three years ago that the crop of linemen they had lacked toughness, and French mentioned that occasionally in their long talks after games.
Tujague said they are currently rotating seven linemen who have made their way into his "circle of trust." Sophomore Tuni Kanuch participated in contact drills for the first time in training camp on Monday and would make that number eight if he stays healthy. About 10 offensive linemen will board the plane for Lincoln, Neb., next week.
"The first couple of days of camp were really good, and then we took a couple steps back," Tujague said. "But the one thing I love about these guys is their leadership. We've got young leaders, and seniors who are giving good leadership. We are not where we need to be, but individual performances are really good."
Junior left guard Kyle Johnson, who also returned to practice Monday after taking most of last week off to heal some injuries he called "nagging, but not serious," said Tujague and Anae have "changed the culture" in the offensive line room and new strength and conditioning coach Frank Wintrich has brought even more discipline and accountability.
"Coach Tujague brought that aggression, that mentality of hard work, to all of us," said Johnson, a three-year starter from Jordan High. "He is the one who helped us change and get better and develop in the ways that he wanted us to develop."
Johnson said this year's line will be better than last year's — which helped the Cougars average 37 points per game.
"We just all need to stay healthy, and our second string guys need to learn quickly and be ready when their time is called," Johnson said. "We will be great if they can step up."
Anae said junior Parker Dawe is slowly solidifying the backup center spot to sophomore Tejan Koroma. Another junior, Brad Wilcox, got first-team reps at right tackle on Monday and projected starting right tackle Ului Lapuaho has been getting reps at right guard. The only senior in the group, Ryker Mathews, has nailed down the starting left tackle job.
Tujague said freshmen Austin Hoyt, J.J. Nwigwe, Jacob Jimenez and Jaterrius Gulley will probably make the first road trip as well, "but are not ready for 85 snaps of Division I football. They will be able to spell some guys."
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU's projected offensive line starters
Left tackle • Ryker Mathews, Sr.
Left guard • Kyle Johnson, Jr.
Center • Tejan Koroma, Soph.
Right guard • Tuni Kanuch, Soph.
Right tackle • Ului Lapuaho, Soph.
Note • If Kanuch remains injured, junior Manu Mulitalo or junior Brad Wilcox will join the starting lineup